ROVERS COME BACK TO WIN AT NEWPORT

Rovers momentarily jump up to third place in the league after a 1-4 win at Newport County.

Goals from Ollie Clarke, Cristian Montano, Matty Taylor and Ellis Harrison secured all three points for Rovers after Alex Rodman gave the Exiles a very early lead.

Darrell Clarke made just the one change from the side that beat Mansfield Town at the Mem last week as Rory Gaffney had recovered from a hamstring injury to take a spot in the starting 11. However, due to an injury to Lee Mansell in the warm-up, Ollie Clarke started the game.

Rovers were caught cold in the early going and found themselves a goal down inside the opening two minutes. Rory Gaffney gave the ball away in the centre circle but Newport were just allowed to advance onto the Rovers goal and Alex Rodman pulled the trigger and his shot clipped the inside of the post and went past an outstretched Steve Mildenhall.

However the Newport goal seemed to spark Rovers into life as Darrell Clarke's side began to dominate and found themselves level after 15 minutes thanks to a lovely strike from Ollie Clarke. Clarke was allowed to advance on the County goal before letting fly from the edge of the area leaving Joe Day no chance.

The domination of the game didn't end there as a lovely ball from Ollie Clarke played through Chris Lines into the penalty area but Joe Day was off his line quickly, throwing himself at the feet of Lines and gathered after a lucky bounce.

John-Christophe Ayina was looking dangerous on the County left as his driven cross was fired along the six-yard area however no one was on hand to apply the finishing touch to tap the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides exchanged shots off target before the break as Scott Boden went closest for the home side before Matty Taylor saw his effort go wide for the boys in blue and white.

Rovers continued to dominate the game on a tough pitch in the second half and were rewarded for all of their pressure as Cristian Montano fired home his second goal of the season. County failed to clear the danger from a Rovers corner as Tom Lockyer nodded the ball down to Montano on the edge of the area. The Colombian composed himself well before arrowing his low shot into the bottom corner of the goal to send the traveling Gasheads into a strong rendition of 'Goodnight Irene'.

Darrell Clarke's side weren't content with just a one goal lead and pushed for another and got it after some good work from substitute Oliver McBurnie. The Scotsman was able to pick out Matty Taylor on the edge of the area, Taylor was able to shrug off his defender before hammering in his 21st goal of the season.

County failed to really create in the second half with half chances for Scott Boden and John-Christophe Ayina but neither actually tested Steve Mildenhall in the Rovers goal.

On as a second half substitute Ellis Harrison was back in his hometown and back in the goals as a really sloppy back pass from the Exiles defence allowed the Welshman plenty of time on the ball and calmly flicked the ball past Day to send Rovers momentarily up into third place in the Sky Bet League Two table.

Up next for Rovers is the visit of Cambridge United to the Memorial Stadium on Good Friday before Darrell Clarke's men make the long trip north to take on Carlisle on Easter Monday.